More than half of companies have done app consolidation in the past year, and 45% still are managing duplicate apps. App consolidation’s benefits from lowered cost and complexity are easy to see, but it’s hard to get there because of employee resistance and lack of resources. IT organizations also must build credibility as they cut apps, since in 63% of companies app sprawl is caused in part by unmet needs.

While 68% say demand for WAN bandwidth will increase, just 15% are in the process of bringing new services or more ­capacity online now. For 26%, cost is the problem. Enter ­vendors from Aryaka and Pertino to Cisco and Google, all looking to use cloud to transform how IT delivers wide area connectivity.

Is the IT budget moving out of IT’s control? Maybe — 37% of respondents say the rate of outside spending is on the rise, up from 22% last year. Just 21% of CIOs retain full spending authority. What is in our control: How we respond.

Among 688 respondents, 46% have deployed mobile apps, with an additional 24% planning to in the next year. Soon, all apps will look like mobile apps — and it’s past time for those with no plans to get cracking.

Today’s enterprises want less complexity and more user-friendly, visual dashboards. Forty-six percent of respondents say ease-of-use challenges with complex software is one of the biggest barriers. Similarly, data visualization tools rated as the most ­interesting leading-edge technology, with an average 3.5 rating on a 1-5 scale.